THE DELUGE IN OTHER LITERATURES AND HISTORY.[1]
By William R. Harper,
The University of Chicago.
The outside stories. — Theories presented in explanation of the facts narrated in the deluge stories. — Comparison of the biblical with the outside material: similarities, differences. — Our estimate of the biblical material. — Not a myth. — Not a legend. — Idealized history. — The purpose of the prophetic writer, the purpose of the priestly writer.
In a former article on the deluge the biblical material was examined. This article is to deal with the stories of the deluge found in other literatures. After an examination of these stories
it will be possible to do three things: 1) Discuss the various theories concerning the deluge stories taken together; 2) compare the biblical material with the material from other literatures; and 3) form an estimate of the biblical material.
I. The Outside Stories. — Hundreds of pages would be necessary to present at all adequately the stories of the deluge which have come down to us in literatures outside of the Hebrew literature. It will be at once clear that there is no space even for an abstract of the various statements. It is true that some of the stories are more interesting than others. But no satisfactory conclusions can be reached except upon the basis of an examination of all or practically all of the material. Lenormant, in The Beginnings of History,[2] presents the essential parts of most of these stories. In various commentaries on Genesis there will be found in connection with the comments on Genesis 6-9, references and allusions to the stories. In Lenormant's presentation, the authorities are given for each statement made. The reader, therefore, is referred to this collection of material for the facts, it being impossible to present
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